Church History & Doctrine Travel Study

Application Information & Instructions

Applications Open!

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Open to all BYU students and all majors — preference given to full-time undergraduate students

Application Instructions:

• Applications due Tuesday, January 20, 2026
• Be sure to review the program information before applying. See the above tabs: Dates, Course, & Credits; Travel Itinerary; Program Expenses; Participant Expectations; and Frequently Asked Questions
• Be prepared to submit the following in your application:
  
  • A photo of yourself
  • Optional- A brief video (no more than 2-3 minutes) introducing yourself including your name, where you are from, any hobbies, talents, or interests, and what motivated you to apply to the program.
  • Personal information including contact information
  • BYU academic information
  • Academic and character references (contact information only, no letters)
  • Responses to essay questions addressing your motivation to apply to the program and what you hope to gain from participating.
• Contact the Program Director with any program and applications questions: Dr. Byran Korth—bkorth@byu.edu • 801-422-8662.
• After applications close on January 20, 2026, approved applicants will invited for interviews with the program director during the last weeks of January 2026. Admission decisions will be communicated by the first week of February 2026.

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Program Dates, Courses, & Credit Hours

Dates

Spring Term — April 27 - June 18, 2026

• April 27 - May 1 —> required on-campus instruction

• There will be two 18-day onsite sessions. Students will be assigned to one of the following 18-day onsite sessions (see further explanation below).

  • Session 1: May 5 - 22
  • Session 2: May 26 - June 12

• Please note: As with all travel study programs, accepted students are required to participate in a preparation course (Religious Education at Travel-Study Settings; REL C 350R, 1 credit hour). This course will be held during the second block of winter semester 2026 (February 26 to April 15). Details regarding dates and time for this preparation course will be shared upon admission into the program. There is no additional tuition cost for full-time students to enroll in this course.

Courses & Credit Hours:

Student will earn 4 Religion Credit Hours that count toward the 6 elective credit hours. After being admitted into the program, student will enroll in:

• REL C 325 — Doctrine and Covenants (1 credit hour during 2nd block Winter Semester and 1 credit hour during Spring Term)
• REL C 350R — Religious Education in Travel-Study Settings (2 credit hours during Spring Term)

On-Campus Instruction and Onsite Learning Experience

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General 18-Day Onsite Itinerary

Important:

• The following is the general 18-day onsite itinerary. A more detailed itinerary will be provided prior to the start of the program.
• There will be two sessions of the onsite travel study experience. Each session will include the same locations in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. Students will be assigned to participate in one of the two sessions. Students will indicate their session preference on the application. Note that while preferences will be considered for planning purposes, application to the program indicates a willingness to be assigned to either group.
  
  • Session 1 will be May 5-22
  • Session 2 will be May 26 to June 12.
• Transportation while in Missouri and Illinois will be via vans
• This general itinerary is subject to change.
  

Days 1-4 — Missouri Sites (lodging near Liberty/Independence)

• Arrive at Kansas City Airport
• Independence Visitor Center, Temple Lot, Community of Christ Temple tour, downtown Independence, and other historic sites around Independence.
• Liberty Jail, Richmond, Far West, Hawn's Mill, Adam-ondi-Ahman, and other historic sites around these locations.
• Kansas City Temple (baptism and/or endowment ordinances) and areas around Kansas City

Days 4-16 — Illinois Sites (lodging in Nauvoo)

• City of Nauvoo (instruction will occur both onsite and in a classroom in Nauvoo)
  
  • Nauvoo Visitor Center, Red Brick Store, Smith Family Homestead, Mansion House, Nauvoo House
  • Nauvoo Temple (baptism and/or endowment ordinances)
  • Homes of the apostles, Seventy's Hall, and Nauvoo Temple District
  • Women's Garden (RS Monuments), Lucy Mack Smith Home, and Sarah Granger Kimball home
  • Old Nauvoo Pioneer Cemetery, West Grove, Old Downtown Main Street Shops and Trades, and horse stable
  • And many other historic sites in and surrounding the City of Nauvoo
  • Performances by the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries
• Carthage and Carthage Jail
• Quincy; Ramus (Webster); Warsaw; Tioga (Morely Settlement); Hannibal (Mark Twain River Boat Dinner Cruise)
• Springfield — Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum and Church historic sites

Days 17-18 — Iowa & Nebraska

• Iowa (key locations of 1846 Exodus from Nauvoo)
  
  • Montrose
  • Sugar Creek
  • Richardson Point
  • Locust Creek
  • Corydon (Prairie Trails Museum)
  • Garden City
  • Mount Pisgah
  • Council Bluffs (Kanesville)
• Omaha, Nebraska
  
  • Winter Quarters Visitor Center & Mormon Trail Center
  • Winter Quarters Cemetery
  • Winter Quarters Temple (closed)
  • Mormon Bridge

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Program Expenses

Admitted students are responsible for each of the following expenses in order to participate in the 2026 Church History & Doctrine Travel Study

1. $550 Program Fee
   
   • Covers all student lodging, ground transportation, admissions, and about 25 group meals.
   • Due approximately 7 days after a student is admitted to the program.
   • The affordable $550 program thanks to the generous financial support of Religious Education at BYU.
2. Airfare
   
   • The 18-day onsite program will begin in Kansas City, Missouri and conclude in Omaha, Nebraska.
   • Students are responsible for the cost of airfare arriving in Kansas City and departing from Omaha.
   • Students will be responsible for making their own flight arrangements at the time of admission.
3. Spring Term Tuition
   
   • Successful completion of the program will lead to 4 religion credit hours—1 credit hour during Winter 2nd block (no additional tuition cost for full-time students) and 3 credit hours during Spring Term.
   • Students are responsible for paying for 3 credit hours during Spring Term (see BYU Tuition).
4. Personal Expenses
   
   • Personal expenses include some meals, snacks, incidentals, souvenirs, etc. The amount of personal expenses will vary for each students.
   • While the free program will cover approximately half of the roughly 50 total meals, the remaining 25 meals will be at the students own expense.

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Expectations for Participation

The following is a SUMMARY OF EXPECTATIONS for participation in the 2026 Church History & Travel Student Program. A more detailed description will be shared at time of admission. Application to the program indicates that applicants understand and will voluntarily agree to all the terms and conditions set forth herein if admitted to the program.

Financial Requirements and Participation Costs:

• Payment of the final program fee
• Payment of the roundtrip airfare to/from Missouri. Student is responsible for booking roundtrip to/from Missouri.
• Payment of the tuition
• Payment of any incidental and personal expenses

Health Insurance Requirements:

• Adequate domestic health insurance coverage
• Travel Study Programs are physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing and you must be in good health to participate.
• Participants with Disabilities—Please carefully review the requirements of this Church History Travel Study Program. Then, if you have concerns or if you have a disability that will require accommodation, please contact the program directors and/or the University Accessibility Center.

Program Participation Requirements:

• Enrollment in the 2 classes (Rel C 350R & Rel C 325) required for this program. (Instructions for enrollment will be provided after admitted to the program.)
• Attendance to the on-campus instruction as outlined in the program description. Any inability to attend these classes must be cleared with the program directors prior to starting the program. Illnesses and other unforeseen circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case situation.
• Admitted students will not take any additional courses beyond the 3 Spring Term credit hours required for the program without first getting clearance from the program directors.
• Admitted students will fully participate during the onsite travel study part of the program.

Honor Code Requirements:

• Admitted students must be currently abiding by the BYU Honor Code, and have a current ecclesiastical endorsement form on file.
• Admitted students are not currently on academic or honor code probation at BYU or at any other school.
• Admitted students understand that if they are put on academic or honor code probation while traveling, they will be required to leave the Church History Travel Study Program, will not be entitled to a refund, and will be required to pay any costs related to my early departure.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some common questions. Please reach out to the program director with any questions: Dr. Byran Korth, bkorth@byu.edu, 801-422-8662.

Who can apply?

• The Travel Study Program is open to all majors.
• Because space is limited, preference is given to full-time, undergraduate BYU-Provo students
• There are no prerequisite religion courses.

Can married couples attend? How does lodging work for married couples? What if one of the spouses is not enrolled at BYU?

• Yes, married couples can apply. During the admission process, we will make every effort to admit the married couple together.
• While lodging is based on roommates of the same gender, if a married couple is admitted, we will do our best to accommodate them in a room together. 
• As per the program information, admission preference is given to enrolled BYU-Provo students. However, if one of the spouses in a married couple is not an enrolled BYU-Provo student, please still apply and visit with the program director to explore admission options for the non-BYU enrolled spouse. Program fees remain applicable, but course enrollment options would need to be discussed.
  

I understand that the four credit hours for this travel study count toward the six elective religion credit hours required for graduation. However, I’ve already completed the six elective credit hours. Can I use the travel study credit hours toward my eight required religion credit hours? Are there any other options?

• The program is designed to align with the two religion courses: Rel C 350R, Religious Studies at Travel-Studies Sites, and Rel C 325, Doctrine and Covenants.

  These cannot be counted toward the required religion courses. However, it’s worth noting that even if you’ve already fulfilled the required six elective religion credit hours, these four credit hours from the travel study will still contribute to your overall credit hours needed for graduation. A candidate for a baccalaureate degree must accumulate a minimum of 120 credit hours. Therefore, even if you’ve already completed your religion requirements, the travel student credit hours will still count toward your overall credit hours required for graduation.

Can I be enrolled in other classes while I participate in the travel student program?

• Due to the 18-day onsite experience, it would be very difficult to be enrolled in another BYU Spring Term course and fulfill the expectations of that course and the Travel Study Program. Thus, admitted students are prohibited from enrolling in additional Spring Term courses without the approval of the program director.

What does it cost to participate in the program?

• See the "Program Expenses" tab at the top of this page for a detailed description of all required costs to participate in the Travel Study Program.

Do I have to participate in the entire on-campus instructional portion of the program?

• Yes. In order fulfill the 4 credits of two religion courses and to be prepared for the 18-day onsite travel portion of the program, all admitted students must participate in the one week on-campus portion of the program. Any exceptions to this must be approved by the program director.

How do I make flight reservations?

• Admitted students are responsible for the roundtrip airfare to/from Missouri and making the reservations. You can use booking websites or go directly to the airline. You can also go to travel.byu.edu for booking options through BYU.

What is the workload like during the onsite portion of the program?

• Like any college level course, this is a rigorous travel study program. To make the most of this experiential learning opportunity, students are required to participate in both on-campus and onsite instruction provided by BYU Church History and Doctrine professors. Readings will include the Scriptures, conference talks, Saints, Joseph Smith Papers, etc. Students will also be provided with a Site Guide. Assignments, exams, and reflections will be part of the learning experience.
• All this being said, the program strives to have an appropriate balance between the rigor of the travel itself and the importance of preparatory and followup work, all essential to a successful travel study experience.

More FAQs will be added...

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